ROTATION OF CROPS. 



^7 



odly As the productive quality of the earth never ceases, if 

 corn is not sown, weeds will be produced : therefore it is our 

 business to expel the unproductive plant, and to introduce oth- 

 ers that are beneficial. . .J- 1 c. ■ 



3dly. That the idea of leaving land to rest, is ridiculous ; tor 

 by keeping it clean, and by a judicious intermixture of crops, it 

 may be managed like a garden, and sown from one generation 

 to another. ^ ^ ^ ^ .^ . ,, . , ^ 



4thly. That the fallows in England exhibit nothing but a 

 conflict between the farmer and his weeds, in which the jattex 

 generally prevail ; for at best they are but half stifled, and nev^ 

 cr effectually killed." 



Notwithstanding these arguments, which ought to have great 

 consideration in deciding with respect to the expediency of a- 

 bolishing summer fallowing, as pertinent to a general systeni 

 of good husbandry, some writers contend for the practice ot 

 summer fallows, while the reasons they assign for it obviously 

 show that they have derived their information from farmers 

 who have not understood the efficacjr of a rotation of crops, ae 

 a substitute or preparatory measure for summer fallows. Their 

 reasons are, that a fallow in the summer months is the only ef- 

 fectual method to thoroughly clean the land of weeds ; but the 

 object of. leguminous* crops, raised on the lands, which would 

 be otherwise fallowed, is intended not only to extirpate the 

 weeds more eft*ectually, but to enrich the lande, and better pre- 

 pare them for a winter crop. If any of the leguminous crops 

 are to precede the sowing of winter grain, and they are kept 

 clean, as every sucli crop should be to render it successful, it 

 is very evident that the prevalence of weeds will not only be 

 thereby better prevented, but if the same nourishment is appli- 

 ed to the leguminous crop which was intended for the succeed- 

 ing crop, the soil will be thereby more fertilized. 



It should however be understood, that this practice of substi- 

 tuting a rotation of crops for summer fallow, cannot be recom- 

 mended only in those parts of the country, where the continu* 

 anceof the warm season will admit of bringing to maturity and 

 clearing off the preparatory crop in season for the reception of 

 the winter grain seed. But where the climate will admit of a 

 tillagef crop annually, it appears to be the prevailing opinion 



* Under the head of le^umiiious crops, the British farmers rank 

 beHDs, peas, lares, potatoes, turnips. rota-ba*a. cabbages, and car- 

 rots, which they call enriching crops* See lincyclopedia, under 

 agriculture, p. 232. 



t By tillage crops, should be understood, those which are culti- 

 vated with the plouo;h aud hoe, in distinction from those of grass. 



